Jeff
Home |
About Jeff
About Jeff
Jeff Gordon |
 |
Jeff Gordon may best be known as a four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, but he has long been a fine wine enthusiast. Growing up in Vallejo, California, Jeff and his family would travel through Napa Valley and Sonoma County, the heart of California wine country, to water-ski at Lake Berryessa and race on midget tracks in Calistoga and Petaluma. “I remember gazing at the vineyards and thinking about how beautiful they were,” he says. As a youngster, Jeff didn’t understand the purpose of the vines but remained curious none-the-less. As an adult, Jeff has been fortunate in his life and career to dine at fine restaurants around the world and has developed an appreciation for good wine. He had just won his first championship in his sport’s premier series in 1995, went to London and wanted to celebrate. Jeff ordered a Joseph Drouhin Batard-Montrachet, and having never seen a white wine decanted, it was then that his passion for fine wine began. Several years later, Jeff took a keen interest in the winemaking process and decided to create his own collection of fine wine as a result. Working personally with August "Joe" Briggs, owner of Briggs & Sons Winemaking Co. of Calistoga, CA, he launched the Jeff Gordon Collection of wines in the fall of 2005 with a 2004 Carneros Chardonnay, followed by different vintages of Napa Valley Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The most recent releases include a Merlot/Cab blend, called "Joie de Vivre", a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and a French-style Rose of Syrah. "August Briggs wines are extraordinarily good because Joe limits his production in pursuit of the highest quality, which is one of the reasons I chose him to make my wines," Jeff says. "I hope you enjoy the many varietals in my collection that are now available." |
